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Important Components Of A Research Paper In The APA Format

The APA format happens to be one of the most commonly used research paper writing formats in the world. It forms the basis of the other formats that you might come across at advanced learning levels. In fact, if you understand the APA format, it will be very easy for you to understand the rest of the other formats. The changes that make them unique are usually really simple, and for that matter, you will be best placed if you take time to understand how to write your paper in the APA format.

In class there are times when you will be asked to present a research paper in the APA format, and when this happens, you must make sure that you know what to do. The process is really simple, the concept is easy to understand, so you really do not have much to worry about as such.

That being said, there are some important components that you need to know about, which will go a long way in making sure that you know what needs to be done. The following are the key points that you should always have at the back of your mind:

Proper cover page

Focus on the margins

Choose the appropriate font style

Alphabetical arrangement of sources

Proper cover page

The first thing that your paper needs to have is a really good cover page. This is important because it is the first thing your teacher sees when marking your paper, and if it is not accurate, you will fail from the word go. You must be very keen on this, so that by the end of the day, you are sending in a paper that is well worth the marks you want.

Focus on the margins

The margins for this task are usually spelled out. You cannot come up with something different and expect that things will be okay. If you are unsure, consult your teacher for any specifications.

Choose the appropriate font style

The font for working on this paper has to be official. This is why Calibri and Times New Roman are the ones that are usually recommended. The font size should be 12.

Alphabetical arrangement of sources

When you are writing the sources at the end of the paper, make sure you list them in alphabetical order. This is mandatory and you cannot ignore it.